Writing for the Web

I’ve been writing a long time now, long before some of today’s internet users were even thought of by their parents. Long before their parents were old enough to be parents. It’s amazing that with the advent of the internet, everyone thinks they’re a writer.

Stringing words together does not a writer make. Plastering blogs on the internet, does not a writer make. Writers are painters with words. Writers convey information, ideas, feelings, stories, and thoughts. A writer, if he or she is doing their job, should elicit a response within you, positive or negative.

If your writing is not eliciting a response, maybe it’s because you’re not writing in your own voice.

How does one develop his own voice in writing?

Easy. Write a lot. Really a lot, every day, any which way you can. Just because you have a blog on the internet, doesn’t mean you can write. Just because you’ve posted a comment into a forum, doesn’t mean you can write. Pick yourself up a cheap notebook and start by keeping a journal.

Get comfortable with words. Make them friends and not enemies. Realize that sometimes less is more.

Writing for the web and writing for printed paper are two different things.

Here’s some quick tips for writing on the web (some I don’t always follow) stick to them whenever possible:

• Keep it short.
• Paragraphs are complete thoughts, but keep them to a total of 1-3 sentences.
• Use correct grammar and spell-checking.
• PROOF and read before you post.
• Offer a unique viewpoint.
• Provide resources for information.
• Relax and have fun
• Remember the difference between FACT, FICTION, and OPINION – Opinion IS NOT FACT.

Writing can be fun, and it’s a great tool for self-expression. Learn to make your writing easy to read; make it visually appealing and use common vocabulary. Big words don’t impress anyone. The idea is to communicate, not impress.

And, please, be original, don’t copy and paste from another’s website or article unless you are clearly delineating that somewhere in your post. Copyright rules are very clear. If you have an issue you can check out the rules for copyrighting right here.

Most of all have fun.

I’ve found that words can take you wherever you want to go.

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